Friday, August 31, 2012

I finished quilting and binding my colorwash yesterday. I used a monofilament thread and a number 80 topstitch needle to stitch the blocks in the ditch. It's prettier than the picture. I added a hanging sleeve. This beauty will soon be on my dining room wall.
I took a color class Wanda taught while she was in Charlotte earlier this summer when she displayed her art quilts in the Ciel Gallery. The batik squares used to make this colorwash project were purchased from Wanda. She calls the batik kits 'starter kits' and suggests that you feel free to substitute and add batik squares from your personal collection to make your colorwash projects. I didn't. I used the squares that came in the kit.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

I have a new, to me, dark wood dining room table that could use a pretty bright table runner. Using a Missouri Star YouTube video clip tutorial, I made a "quilt as you go" batik table runner. The video link is here.

I started with a pack of Light and Bright Batik 2 1/2" strips from Connecting Threads.

Because I would like to leave this table runner on the table during meals, I decided to make it narrow. I cut 12 3/4" long pieces from each of the 24 strips in the Light and Bright pack. While I had the strips out, I also cut a 2 1/2" square from each strip for my collection of batik squares.
I followed the "quilt as you go" directions in the video. After sewing on the last strip, I trimmed the edges, sewed on the binding and my pretty new table runner was finished. This is my first table runner. It was fast and fun.
I will link this post to Megan's "Let Me See Your Jelly Roll" August Challenge. Her button is on the side of my blog.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

I used 5" squares for this tetris challenge. After adding a 2 1/2" inner border and a 3 1/2" outer border, the top finished at about 95" x 64". I like it ... a lot. This has been fun :D
To see other tetris challenge quilt tops, go here.

Friday, August 24, 2012

I didn't realize how much I liked turquoise, teal and aqua until this month's rainbow challenge. Such calming colors. Since I was pretty much out of this color, scraps and stash, I bought 3 pieces of turquoise themed fabric, each half a yard. Then I was able to made three blocks, cut some strips to add to my strip collection for a rainbow challenge jelly roll race quilt in December ... and have a little turquoise fabric in my stash.
To see what others have made with their turquoise stash and scraps, go here.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

This is week 6 of the Tetris QAL. I finished up block 6 and pieced blocks 4, 5, and 6 together. I also pieced blocks 1, 2, and 3 together.
I added an extra row of squares to blocks 4 and block 6 so I would have room for all the game pieces. This quilt top is almost done : )
Check out the tetris blocks others are making here .

Thursday, August 16, 2012

My sewing space is part of a finished room over the garage. I share it with a home office and some storage. It's not bad, but it sure could use more natural light. The room has only one window.

This is where I piece and quilt. My inspiration is a mug rug made by Wanda Hanson. Also a couple post cards with pictures of quilts made by Wanda. The colorwash project was from a class she taught in Charlotte this summer. My friend Sharon made me a sewing machine cover, pin cushion, thread catcher and scissor holder thingy under the machine. Don't know what it's called, but it's great. I have another thread catcher behind the sewing machine made by my friend Terri. It's apparently shy. I've found that one can never have too many thread catchers.
This is a picture of my stash. Some delicious Moda jelly rolls and charm packs are on the top shelf . The Moda Bake Shop asked quilters to show pictures of their stash. The incentive is a package of goodies for some lucky person. Hope it's me! Beside my stash collection is a card table with UFO's guarded by Mr. Green Alien. His head is drooping. Needs air.

And the cutting table. Actually it's where Mother sews, but when she walks out of the room I pretend it's part of my sewing space. hehe

And my "design floor" with my current project, a colorwash in progress. I bought a batik kit from Wanda a week ago and couldn't wait any longer to play with the lovely little 2 1/2" squares.
Does my sewing area always look like this? I wish!. I picked up a bit for some pictures : )

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

I finished up week five's tetris block. Had part of a purple game piece from last week to carry over.

I also made up a turquoise pot holder for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. This time I took some pictures showing how I make pot holders. The Missouri Star Quilt Company has a nice YouTube binding tutorial here.

The last picture shows 8 potholders I have made during this year's rainbow scrap challenge.

Friday, August 3, 2012

I used all my turquoise fabrics making these four blocks. Thought I might sit out the rest of August, but I have more blue scraps. Maybe I'll make more blue pot holders.
Check out what others in the Rainbow Challenge have been working on this week here..